The book by Leningrad historians tells about the life of our Fatherland in the 9th–15th centuries. Readers will learn how the Slavs settled, how they created their statehood and culture, built cities and established connections with near and distant neighbors, and how they fought for their independence. The narrative centers on the most important historical events of this period: the struggle of the Russian people against the Mongol-Tatar invasion, victory on the Kulikovo field, standing on the Ugra River, the result of which was the complete liberation of Russian lands from foreign yoke. Among other historical materials, the authors used the latest finds from their own archaeological excavations, based on new research into chronicles and monuments of ancient Russian literature. For children of secondary and senior school age.